Showing posts with label textile arts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label textile arts. Show all posts

Friday, June 19, 2020

Friendship Bracelets As Textile Arts: Maturing A Childhood Trend


https://www.instagram.com/rickweaves/
Multicolored bracelet array

I'm super happy to share with you a guest blog post today from my daughter Erica, who is an amazing weaver! She is also a member of the class of 2020, and with her school year cut short, has gotten in a lot of practice making her beautiful woven bracelets.

I grew up spending time with my cousin, Andrea. Being a few years older than me, she would always be the one who was up on trends first, either from the big kids at school or summer camp. 

I was about 8 years old when she taught me how to make friendship bracelets in my grandmother’s sunny living room.

Simple twisted and green variegated "carpet" bracelets


Bright Aztec-inspired bracelet

Andrea showed me over and over again how to make a forward knot with embroidery thread, the most basic building block for a bracelet. From there, I mastered what we called a “carpet” bracelet. Soon enough, I amassed a collection of rainbow threads to knot with for the duration of that special summer.



Double arrowhead with natural color palette

Now at 18, I’ve taken up this craft again, finding now more than ever how meditative and rewarding knotting friendship bracelets is. Working through a pattern to create a beautiful and unique textile clears the mind and helps you relax like no other creative hobby.


You can create an endless variety of color combinations and different patterns

Like many of you, my town had been under stay at home orders for over three months during the Covid-19 pandemic. I spent this time building my repertoire of bracelets and opening my own small business through Instagram.

I'm glad to have used this tough and uncertain time to channel my energy and put something beautiful into this world!

Pastel sunset chevron

Weaving friendship bracelets is a hobby that transcends childhood. As I spent more and more time knotting these bracelets, I found new and complex patterns that could challenge me and take my skills to the next level. The simple knots can be expanded from forming bracelets to bookmarks, or even more ambitious projects like belts, guitar straps, necklaces, or even wall hangings.


My favorite bracelets!

It is never too late to create friendship bracelets! I’d suggest that a beginner should purchase a plastic box for storing string, paper or plastic bobbins to wind the sting onto, and multicolored embroidery thread. 

The great thing about handwoven bracelets is that they are accessible. Even the most beginner-level knotter can create a fantastic, wearable piece and personalize their projects.


One-of-a-kind key chains

Hogwarts house inspired bracelets

All of the bracelets shown are available for purchase through my Instagram shop rickweaves.

Looking for a special custom bracelet with you own favorite colors? Message me @rickweaves and I'll make a special one just for you! Come and see all of the other styles and patterns I have to offer! ~ Erica





What do you think?


Have a great week!
Laura

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Article copyright ©Laura Beth Love 2020 and may not be republished in print or other media without express written permission from the author. For any link corrections please leave correct info in comment area.

Friday, October 5, 2018

Colorful Embroidery On Old Upcycled Tennis Rackets




love coming across something that is a combination of art and upcycle, something unexpected, clever, and in some way beautiful. 

South African creative Danielle Clough created just that when she combined yarn embroidery with vintage tennis rackets and squash rackets! Using the woven racket as her canvas, Danielle creates brilliantly colored designs with yarn on the rackets. My favorite are the floral designs. 





Her prices for these range around $500, so that’s quite a great profit for recycled materials! Check them out! 







Check out more of Danielle's work here









What do you think? 




Have a great week!
 Laura




Article copyright ©Laura Beth Love for Dishfunctional Designs™ 2018
all rights reserved

Monday, July 16, 2018

Upcycled Clothes: Turn An Old Tank Top Into A Tote



 upcycled clothes tank top made into a tote



I have to say I was thoroughly impressed when I saw these amazing totes made from old tank top summer t-shirts by Monica at Crafty Nest. You can find the complete step by step DIY instructions on her site but I can tell you there are only a few steps to making these and it's a pretty simple project that's probably easy enough for a beginner to tackle. 

Of course the first thing I did was mentally go through my closet, seeing flashes of the different tops I had that might work for this project, the ones that were too small or that I just no longer wore for whatever reason. I think I have one in mind and I hope to try my own hand at making a t-shirt handbag one day soon. 











What do you think?






Have a great week!
 Laura


Thursday, March 7, 2013

DIY Scrap Lace Curtain


Why not create a curtain out of lace tablecloth, curtain, and material scraps?

I love the look of the mismatched patterns and textures! Just think, if you thrift a few different pieces of old lace material (weather from a vintage tablecloth, curtain, or whatever remnant you find) and use just a few portions of each piece, you can create multiple curtains like this. 

I love the vintage tea-stained look of these old pieces, but imagine this in different colors. Which would you choose and where would you hang this? 





What do you think?


Have a great week!
Laura


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Article copyright ©Laura Beth Love 2019 and may not be republished in print or other media without express written permission from the author.